At least 36 people were killed and another 30 injured after a section of an expressway in China's Guangdong province collapsed, state media reported on Thursday.
The collapse, triggered by heavy rain, occurred at around 2:10 am on Wednesday on the Meizhou-Dabu Expressway, Xinhua news agency reported, adding that the collapsed section was 17.9 meters in length and caused 23 vehicles to plunge.
Meizhou is one of the areas in southern China's Guangdong that has been badly hit by heavy rain and hail since late April which set off dangerous mudslides, inundated homes and destroyed bridges.
President Xi Jinping called for the utmost efforts to save lives and eliminate dangers as the rainy weather continued in the region, according to a Xinhua report.
Task forces from the central and local governments have been dispatched for the rescue work, the report added.
Russian air strikes kill 10, injure more than 50 in Ukraine's Kyiv
Firefighters battle wildfire in southern France
US, Iran talks conclude in Doha, focused on Strait of Hormuz
Trump honours Theodore Roosevelt in North Dakota, debuts new Air Force One
Kenyan court charges 8 schoolgirls with fellow students' murder
At least 5 people killed in fire in Antwerp apartment block
Three people die in Mexico World Cup celebrations as fans crowd streets
After Venezuela quakes, citizens lead rescues amid military theft accusations
